Based on Jim Davis’ comic strip Garfield, The Garfield Movie is an American animated adventure comedy released in 2024. With voices by Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Hannah Waddingham, Ving Rhames, Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, Harvey Guillén, Brett Goldstein, Bowen Yang, and Snoop Dogg, the film is directed by Mark Dindal and features a screenplay by David Reynolds and the writing team of Paul A. Kaplan and Mark Torgove. Vic, a street cat, and Garfield, who has been separated from his father for a long time, are compelled to accompany Garfield on a perilous journey in the movie.

The secret is once again revealed, and it has been eighteen years since we saw a Garfield movie on the big screen. The renowned story of the large orange tabby cat, which began as a comic strip in 1976, is making a comeback to theaters with an all-star voice cast this time around. The Garfield movie has a lot going for it, and it wouldn’t be shocking if it becomes a box office success similar to its predecessors, which had unfavorable reviews when they first came out. But will our lasagna-loving, Monday-hating cat have an easy ride? That is a separate subject altogether, and unfortunately for Garfield lovers, we don’t have good news.

The movie Garfield begins very beautifully, introducing us to Chris Pratt’s character, the lazy, food-obsessed hero who loves to be pampered like a god by his owner Jon (Nicholas Hoult) and best friend/sidekick Odie (Harvey Guillén). Who would have guessed that the greatest scene in a movie would be an orange cat having the time of his life? Additionally, we learn about Garfield’s early years and how, via the cat or horse, he came to be with Jon. In any case, this adorable little orange kitty named Garfield discovers Jon and, upon learning that his new human companion is hesitant to bring our hero home, sobs himself to sleep, ending up floating atop a takeout box of lasagna.

However, a film’s post-climax is usually when tension arises in the shape of Vic (Samuel L. Jackson), Garfield’s father who is separated from him. Vic returns to our lead’s life, but this time there is danger trailing him.

To suggest that the movie takes a turn for the worst once Garfield and company leave the security of his home and embark on an exciting journey with Bilbo Baggins would be an understatement. The film’s overall heist aspect is quite obvious, despite Hannah Waddingham’s excellent voice acting as the evil Persian cat, Jinx, and the supporting cast. It’s the least engaging sequence in the movie. Although the theft scenes are reminiscent to Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget from the previous year, the main adversary, who makes an appearance for less than five minutes, seemed to be modeled after Captain Chantel DuBois, the chief of the animal control unit in Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted.

The portion, which clearly occupies the most of the movie, is mostly composed of funny scenes with a sweet little love tale between Otto the Bull and Ethel the Cow in between. Those are probably the only things to remember from it.

All that’s left are several commercial placements, ranging from FedEx and Olive Garden restaurants to Sony headphones and Walmart, as well as the usage of well-known music clips like the Mission Impossible theme targeted for an adult audience. The movie even specifically references dating apps and suggests you give the premium plan a try. You almost get the impression that the movie, like its title character, is too slothful to turn a profit from a theatrical run and would much rather reap the rewards of product placements. Even if it doesn’t revolutionize the wheel in terms of animation, audiences in their single digits who are more inclined to like the goofy direction the movie frequently takes will undoubtedly find appeal in the vibrant colors.

Chris Pratt performs a respectable job voice acting, mostly due to the character’s recognizable characteristics. However, it’s still better than the mishap he had with Mario’s accent in The Super Mario Bros. Movie from the previous year. The paucity of substance even lets down seasoned voice actor Samuel L. Jackson, whose Frozone from The Incredibles flicks is undoubtedly his greatest performance. Furthermore, the less we discuss how it wastes cameos like Snoop Dogg’s, the better.

The Garfield Movie is a cliched movie that makes you wish it had stuck to its core elements and kept things straightforward. Instead, it becomes a complicated muddle that even Garfield will hesitate to consume because to the numerous subplots and digressions.

Producers and writers were brought on board by Alcon Entertainment to start work on a new animated Garfield movie in May 2016. Preproduction on the movie commenced in November 2018 when Dindal’s appointment as director was revealed. Pratt was cast as Garfield in the movie, which Sony Pictures had acquired the distribution rights to in 2021. The remaining cast members joined the cast the next year. DNEG Animation handled the film’s animation, and Dindal’s longtime partner John Debney handled the music.

On May 24, 2024, Sony Pictures Releasing will open The Garfield Movie in theaters across the country under its Columbia Pictures label.